(Newser)
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After more than 150 million years on earth, snakes may be slithering toward extinction. A new study shows snake populations plummeting around the world, with an especially sharp and mysterious drop in 1998. Researchers who tracked 17 snake populations in Africa, Europe, and Australia were "alarmed" to find 11 had declined markedly since 1998—some by up to 90%, BBC reports.

The scientists say they "don't have a clue" what could have happened to snakes in 1998. Female snakes were more affected than males, and snakes living in preserves and parks were especially hard-hit, New Scientist reports. Researchers think climate change, declining habitat quality, and less abundant prey may be factors in the troubling decline.

Yep, creatures that have been around for 150 million years are going to go extinct during this 10-20 years that we decide to start taking measurements. We see how well these kind of predictions work with the 'next ice age'. I'm sorry, I meant to say 'global warming'. My bad, I mean 'climate change'. Let's all go pet a snake before it's too late!

finkster

Jun 14, 2010 5:55 AM CDT

As long as their are politicians snakes will never become completely extinct.